Final answer:
The advantage of the sone scale is that it is an interval scale which indicates the absolute loudness of a sound. It uses phons to measure loudness as perceived by the average person, and is valued for its ability to approximate the human ear's perception of loudness levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the advantage of the sone scale, which is that it is an interval scale. An interval scale provides a consistent measure of difference between quantities. In the context of the sone scale, the correct answer is that it tells us it indicates the absolute loudness of a sound. This scale is particularly useful because our ears perceive loudness logarithmically, not linearly, hence a linear scale would not represent the perception of loudness very effectively.
A sone is a unit of loudness, where 1 sone is equivalent to the loudness of a pure tone at 1000 Hz at 40 dB above the reference level. The decibel (dB) scale measures the sound intensity level, which corresponds to a ratio and is therefore unitless. The dB scale is multiplied by 10 to express the logarithmic nature of our hearing perception. Thus, while dB is concerned with the physical intensity, the sone scale is concerned with perceptual loudness. The sone scale uses phons, which at 1000 Hz have a one-to-one correspondence with decibels, to gauge loudness as perceived by the average person.
It's important to note that the sone scale does not provide information about sound frequency, compatibility with digital audio systems, or serve as a universal standard for all sound measurements. Instead, its strength lies in approximating the human ear's response to varying loudness levels, making it a valuable tool for sound engineers, audiologists, and others involved in the study of acoustics and sound design.